LAIKA Studios, the team behind stop-motion animated hits ParaNorman and Coraline, are back with their sixth stop-motion movie, Wildwood. It’s billed as “LAIKA’s most ambitious cinematic journey yet,” and a first look featurette was debuted over the weekend.
Watch below for a sneak peek at LAIKA’s Wildwood, coming soon.
LAIKA previews, “Step inside LAIKA’s world of Wildwood, where a powerful golden eagle commands the skies and magic takes flight. In this first look, meet The General, voiced by Honorary Academy Award® recipient Angela Bassett, a fierce warrior and leader of the skies. Behind the scenes, the brilliant artists at LAIKA Studios are hand-crafting a character that soars beyond the screen through breathtaking stop-motion animation.”
Wildwood is written by Chris Butler (ParaNorman, Coraline), based on the novel by Colin Meloy, lead singer/songwriter for The Decemberists, and illustrated by artist Carson Ellis.
The epic fantasy is directed by Kubo and the Two Strings and Bumblebee director Travis Knight, President & CEO of the award-winning animation studio. Here’s the full synopsis:
“Beyond Portland’s city limits lies Wildwood. You’re not supposed to go there. You’re not even supposed to know it exists. But Prue McKeel is about to enter this enchanted wonderland. Her baby brother Mac has been taken by a murder of crows into the forest’s depths, and she – along with her hapless classmate Curtis – is going to get him back. Prue might think she’s too old for fairytales, but she’s just found herself at the center of one. One filled with strange talking animals, roguish bandits, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions.”
The voice cast for the upcoming Wildwood includes Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant.